Diversity

About Belgian Red CattleAbout Belgian Red Cattle

The Belgian Red cattle are a multipurpose (both milk and meat production) breed of cattle developed in the West Flanders region of Belgium. They are also known as Red Flemish, West Flemish, West Flemish Red, Rood ras van Belgiƫ (Flemish) and Rouge de Belgique (French) cattle.

They were developed from Cassel and Veurne-Ambacht cattle. Currently they are found throughout West Flanders and they constitute about 7 percent of the Belgian national herd.

Belgian Red cattle are generally long, heavy and large animals. They are primarily solid red in color with potentially a few white patches on head, underline, dewlap and legs and also on udder or scrotum. Both bulls and cows usually have horns. They are a medium-sized breed, with cows weighing around 1,300-1,500 pounds and bulls weighing around 2,000-2,200 pounds.

They are in danger of extinction. The total population of the Belgian Red cattle was about 50,000 in 1986. But their population decreased rapidly and there were only 100 cows left in the world in 2001.